Gaza could plunge into darkness amid fuel shortage
The only functioning power plant in the besieged Gaza Strip will shut down by tomorrow morning after running out of fuel amid a dire power shortage that continues to worsen the humanitarian situation there.
In a statement released on Monday, the Palestinian Power Authority said the plant would stop operating if no fuel is imported through Israeli-controlled crossings.
Gaza could plunge into darkness as of Tuesday, the statement added. Israel “stopped fuel supplies for the electricity plant entering last Wednesday.”
The power station has temporarily shut down a number of times in recent years over energy shortages. It was hit by Israel in the previous wars.
The fuel shortage is also blamed on the Palestinian Authority’s removal of fuel tax exemption. It has demanded that the resistance movement Hamas pay taxes on fuel imports to Gaza.
Palestinians living in Gaza suffer regular blackouts as a result of fuel shortages with electricity being provided for less than 12 hours a day. Power supply deficit in the coastal enclave is over 75 percent, which could cripple all aspects of life there.
Israel on Sunday also tightened its naval blockade of Gaza. It banned fuel from entering the Kerem Shalom crossing between southern Gaza and the occupied territories until further notice.
Gaza’s economy has suffered from years of blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.
The Israeli siege has, since June 2007, caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
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